Palladius 2013 and Columella 2013
By Christian Eedes, 13 August 2015
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6
The kit.
New vintages of the signature offerings from Sadie Family Wines have just been released:
Palladius 2013
Wine Cellar price: R510
Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Semillon Gris, Semillon Blanc and Palomino.
The nose is wonderfully fragrant – heady and exotic with notes of flowers, thatch, lime, peach and apricot. The palate meanwhile possesses a weightless intensity and moves really well in the mouth. This wine is full but lithe, and avoids being excessively thick textured. The acidity is lemon-like, which is to say bright and entirely natural. Handsome, sophisticated and very polished. Substantial without appearing too forceful, which is a great trick to pull off.
Score: 95/100.
Columella 2013
Wine Cellar price: R695
80% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre and 3% Grenache.
An utterly enticing nose of red and black fruit, purple flowers and fynbos. Very little Swartland earthiness (which sometimes can be a bit base) or overt stemmy character.
The palate is rich and full but shows great poise – there’s nothing discordant in terms of structure. As with the Palladius, the wine is intense but not exaggerated. Lovely fresh acidity and deft extraction making for fine tannins. Cleverly envisioned and executed overall – much made of the fact that this wine has the lowest abv since the maiden 2000 vintage (14% on the back label) and this is unquestionably in the wine’s favour. Delicacy, grace and just a bit of Sadie insouciance in evidence.
Score: 96/100.
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Smirrie | 18 May 2020
I had the Columella 2013 yesterday. Decanted for 2 hours and poured into a Zalto Burgundy Glass.
This wine is world class and WILL stand up in any line-up of the worlds fine wine.
It is so delicate and as food wine it did extremely well to lit up a de-boned leg of lamb.
Looking forward to taste the development of this wine over a further decade or more.
John Hartley | 17 August 2015
Ja, Kwispedoor, you and most of the Winemags readership! Now what would that do for the economy……?
Kwispedoor | 17 August 2015
The economy is not my first priority, John. 🙂
Christian | 17 August 2015
Hi Smirrie, For me, Columella 2013 is the most accomplished modern-era SA red yet. New-release Ouwingerdreeks wines all in hand. Just need a gap in my schedule…
Kwispedoor | 17 August 2015
If I had all the Ouwingerdreeks wines in hand, gaps the size of Brazil would instantaneously appear all over my schedule. Actually, my entire schedule would probably vanish like government morality.
Smirrie | 17 August 2015
I agree wholeheartedly with the reviews. I thought the Palladius was better than the Columella for me but the high points i believe is spot on.
Any reviews of the 2014 OVS perhaps ? Specifically the T-Voetpad, Treinspoor and Skerpioen perhaps.